6 replies to this topic

[bradbury west]

It is a long story, but I am trying to find out more about the "Adams" or "A F S" suspension system. It features on the Douglas Light Car of 1918/1920, and uses a pair of horizontal coil springs operated by levers and bell cranks off a beam rear axle. The Autocar carried details etc in August 1918 and Tim Cork supplied an excellent article on the car and marque in the VSCC Winter 2001 Bulletin.

Any further details about the theory and operating system, or any other cars to which it was applied would be welcomed.

Many thanks

Roger Lund

[Pete Stowe]

There's a paragraph about this in Jeff Clew's Douglas history "The Best Twin" published in 1974, describing the post-WW1 version of the car.

"The rear suspension was also changed, from a transverse spring to what was known as the A.F.S. patented stystem. This necessitated an upsweep of the channel steel chassis frame, to permit the extended ampount of travel, in the vertical plane. The axle was attached to what may be described as two bell crank arms, bearing on two undamped coil springs mounted transversely above the rear of the chassis. In some ways, this somewhat crude form of suspension anticipated the more refined method that is employed today on cars such as the Triumph Herald. It was effective in absorbing shocks, but was inclined to promote body sway."

[bradbury west]

Pete, Many thanks for the response on this one, and also for the details earlier in the year on my DRW project.


with kind regards


RL

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Pete Stowe
There's a paragraph about this in Jeff Clew's Douglas history.....

".....In some ways, this somewhat crude form of suspension anticipated the more refined method that is employed today on cars such as the Triumph Herald....."

I'm inclined to wonder about this particular statement...

Triumph Herald? It was a swing axle, with coils directly over the axle, and trailing arm location as I recall... how does this in any way resemble the Herald?

Any pics anywhere?

[bradbury west]

I wondered that as well. Must be the concept of a swing axle I suppose, although the Douglas had a solid rear axle with long radius rods for forward location, so what with rudimentary pivots on the ends of the spring shackles to the axles mounting I suspect there was a certain looseness about the set up, and a lot of roll, but as an antidote to the rough roads opf yesteryear, I suppose it was a good alternative, but it was very space consuming and only relaly suitable for the rear end.

There is a sketch of the set up in the VSCC Bulletin for winter 2001. I do not have a scanner so cannot help at present, perhaps someone in the VSCC or their office could oblige.

Inevitably, dear Bill Boddy came up in a later issue with a period photograph of the only one he ever saw, giving the name of the woman driver. He never ceases to amaze me, wonderful man, a sort of version 1 of Doug Nye......... sorry Doug, pls take it as a supreme compliment.

Roger Lund.

[dolomite]

Originally posted by Ray Bell


I'm inclined to wonder about this particular statement...

Triumph Herald? It was a swing axle, with coils directly over the axle, and trailing arm location as I recall... how does this in any way resemble the Herald?

Any pics anywhere?

Herald rear suspension

looks totally different to me.

[Ray Bell]

That's right, there was a transverse leaf spring...

I can't see any relationship at all to the description above!